LEAD Institute

LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) Institute is a year-long leadership development program for nonprofit managers aspiring to greater leadership. LEAD serves the diverse communities of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Since it began in 2009, more than 180 leaders representing 120 nonprofits have completed the program.

LEAD Institute

2024 Institute

Invest in yourself and your community: LEAD is growing the next generation of nonprofit leadership!

Applications for LEAD 2024 are now closed.

Values & Commitments

LEAD Institute is committed to building an inclusive and equitable teaching community where LEADers identify core values, share resources, and cultivate a supportive network for leadership growth and mission impact. 

LEADers commit to ten intensive, day-long monthly seminars for leadership growth and reflection at the beautiful Harden Foundation in Salinas, and experience six months of individualized, one-on-one coaching with a professional coach. 

Why LEAD?

LEADers graduate from the program ready to take on greater leadership and thrive. LEAD can help you:

• Identify your core values and connect with a diverse and inspiring peer network. 
• Learn from experts in our community and explore topics related to power, collaboration, and justice. 
• Develop nonprofit management skills and better understand how organizations function. 
• Grow your mission impact and work for change. 

Prior to being part of LEAD, I often struggled with my confidence as a leader. Through the support of my coach as well as my LEAD cohort, not only have I learned to collaborate with other nonprofits, but I have also learned to be more involved and confident in my job decision making as a leader. Ivan Meza, Avenues Program Coordinator, Community Connection

Why LEAD? –  for Your Organization

• Make an organizational commitment to invest in your great staff and empower their growth. 
• Meet new partners and build support networks. 
• Build capacity in key areas including supervision, collaboration, fund development, financial management, and more. 

LEAD has expanded our LEADer’s skill set and willingness to try new things which in turn has expanded her job scope further than we had initially imagined. – Rob Rapp, former Development Director, Community Human Services and LEAD Alum

Partners, Presenters and Coaches

The Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and the Community Foundation for San Benito County partner with the Community Foundation for Monterey County to ensure strong participation from all three counties.

Recent presenters with expertise in nonprofit management and leadership development have included LEAD Alumni Hana Kong and ileana Ortega Brunetti, Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz, G. Luca Oake, Sharon Papo, Catherine Hambley, Steve Dennis, plus CNE staff Reid Norris and Susie Polnaszek.

Thank you to our 2023 LEAD coaches: Anne Auburn, Jennifer Britton, Tobi Marcus, Angela Lopez, Clare Mounteer, Arne Croce, Sorby Grant, Marie Earl, Christine Silver, Emma Pineda Fortin, Michelle Slade, Grace Hammond, Daniela Bryan, Robert Freiri, and Marisa Singer 

2024 LEAD Institute

LEAD is an intensive learning experience, and support from your nonprofit or community-based organization and supervisors is essential. In community, LEADers develop knowledge, skills, confidence and readiness to make a strong contribution to mission impact and organizational success.

Key Coursework

LEADers explore:

• Personal strengths and opportunities to grow
• Values and vision clarity
• Leadership lineage – on who’s shoulders are you standing?
• Inclusive power
• Peer coaching and feedback
• Equity, justice and community resources

Additional topics include:

• Strategy and goal setting: identifying and measuring what’s most important
• Nonprofit financial management and fund development
• Boards, governance and the unique aspects of nonprofit management
• Effective communication
• Accountability and addressing workplace issues
• How to run a great team meeting
• Strategies for effective delegation – identifying team members’ strengths

Coaching and Other Support for LEADers

• 10 hours of individualized coaching
• Dynamic networking across organizations and missions, plus Alumni Network
• Peer coaching and peer assist with classmates
• Online library of LEAD resources and materials
• Encouragement and investment in LEADers’ success

If you lead a large staff or a small staff, if you are in a place in your career that you want to grow your organization, if you need coaching or just want to learn more about how to make your nonprofit the best it can be, you should apply to this program.” – Jennifer Suttie, 2022 LEAD Institute Alum

Seminar Dates & Time Commitment

LEADers commit to ten intensive, day-long, in-person monthly seminars at Harden Foundation in Salinas from February to December 2024. LEADers should expect to devote 2-3 additional hours each month for coaching, reflection, and self-directed preparatory work for LEAD.

LEAD 2024 Dates 

Attendance at seminars is essential. Successful completion of sessions and assignments by December 2024 and the ability to demonstrate integration of content areas in professional life and leadership qualify you for a LEAD Certificate of Completion.

February 9, 2024

March 8

April 12

May 10

June 14

July 12

August 9

September 13

October 11

November 8

December 13 Graduation

Apply to LEAD

2024 LEAD applications are now closed. Check back in August 2024 for future opportunities.

We recommend you discuss your goals and the commitment required to attend LEAD with your direct supervisor and/or affiliated community organizations. Nonprofits based in Santa Cruz, Monterey or San Benito Counties are eligible. LEAD Institute will accept one applicant per organization. 

I first decided to send an employee to LEAD because I noticed key leadership qualities: she’s smart, talented and has a strong work ethic. LEAD Institute is building on those qualities while developing new leadership skills that will benefit her and most importantly, the children and families served by Jacob’s Heart. A sound investment…now and in the future. – Lori Butterworth, then-ED of Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services

Application and Selection Criteria

Successful candidates demonstrate:

• Integrity, critical thinking, and a commitment to life-long learning 
• Interest in taking on greater leadership in the next 18 months 
• Support from their organization or community group 
• Experience supervising others or the desire to gain management skills 
• Investment in community 

Tuition and Partial Scholarships

We are committed to working with all accepted applicants and their organizations to coordinate tuition funding.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County understands the unique financial circumstances of each LEAD participant and nonprofit organization. We encourage all who could benefit from LEAD Institute to apply. Tuition is sliding-scale and need-based scholarships are available. LEAD Institute will accept one applicant per organization. 

LEAD Participants and Alumni

LEAD Institute is an opportunity to engage with a dynamic and inspiring network of alumni in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. 

 Activities help alumni to stay connected, continue learning, and renew energy for leadership growth. 

 Recent alumni activities include: reunions by class, professional development and peer coaching. 

The new tools and support network of other leaders helps me feel consistently hopeful even through challenging times. – Mireya Gomez-Contreras, Arts Council of Santa Cruz County

2023 LEAD Institute participants

Monterey County

• Elizabeth Jimenez, Rancho Cielo, Grants and Communications Manager
• Genevieve Lucas-Conwell, Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, Executive Director
• Gina Silva, Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast, Director of Recruitment
• Jacqueline Leon, Loaves, Fishes & Computers – LFC, Computer Literacy Instructor/Coordinator
• Jaimee De Pompeo, The Parenting Connection of Monterey County, Program Director
• Jesse Juarez, Youth Arts Collective, Executive Director
• Jorge Torres, Community Partnership for Youth, Art/Media/Site Director
• Lisa Rico, Natividad Foundation, Director of Development
• Manuel Hernandez, Interim Inc., Assistant Program Director
• Maria Magaña, Central Coast Center for Independent Living CCCIL, Community Organizer
• Maria Perez-Zamora, CASA of Monterey County, Program Director
• Melissa Mahoney, Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, Executive Director
• Mike Chamberlain, Ventana Wilderness Alliance, Executive Director
• Priscilla Ortega, Community Homeless Solutions, DV Shelter Manager
• Sheri Massolo, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation, Development Services Manager
• Stacie Andrews, The Village Project, Inc., Executive Director
• Taylor Honrath, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Deputy Director
• Tessa Wise, Veterans Transition Center of California

San Benito and Santa Cruz County

• Anthony Lopez, Youth Alliance, Associate Director of Expanded Learning
  
• Brianna Flores, Pajaro Valley Arts, Office Manager

Monterey County Nonprofits & Alumni

San Benito County Nonprofits & Alumni

Santa Cruz County Nonprofits & Alumni